A trap of your own making

In The Weekend Australia a few weeks ago Frank Furedi wrote an insightful piece about the intolerant exclusion of those opposed to homosexual marriage from even the conversation of 'modern society'. I commend it to you.

Yet, for all its perspicuity, the article suffers from the same thing it criticises. Furedi chides those who define an anti gay marriage position out of all consideration - "The declaration that certain values and attitudes are incompatible with modern society tends to serve as a prelude towards stigmatising and attempting to silence it. That is why the so-called enlightened opponents of 'old-time religion' more than match the intolerance of those they denounce as homophobic bigots.".

But this is exactly how he frames his own argument. He begins with: "Whatever one thinks about the pros and cons of gay marriage, a tolerant society cannot deny the right of homosexual couples to formalise their relationship", and ends: "In such circumstances elite-sanctioned snobbish intolerance is no more acceptable than anti-gay prejudice". It seems that the pull to be on "the right side of the cultural divide" is even stronger than Furedi recognises. A careful reader needs must come away confused. It is intolerant and unfair to simply dismiss those who oppose gay marriage - that much is clear. Yet it is equally unacceptable to be in any way won over to their position. So one must tolerantly allow their participation in the national discussion, as long as one's mind is made up from the get-go. Huh?